Article Media Click images to enlarge +

EFTTA has restructured its membership fees as part of its objective to make the association less dependent on funds from its annual EFTTEX trade show.

The initial attempt to change membership fees at its Annual General Assembly (AGA) at EFTTEX in Budapest was stalled because it was felt the matter should be put to all its members in an email vote.

It was revealed at the AGA that membership fees contributed 25% of revenue, but the aim is to increase that to 40% in the future.

Members were subsequently polled with a new set of fees in October and as a result of that feedback the EFTTA Board validated the new structure at a meeting this month.

Although details of the new fees have not been revealed, EFTTA CEO Jean-Claude Bel explained that bigger companies will contribute more and smaller companies will pay less. Most of Europe’s larger companies, including Shimano, Rapala VMC, Daiwa and Pure Fishing, are represented on the Board.

Non-European companies supporting EFTTA, along with big chains and buying groups, will remain Discretionary Supporting Members with no voting rights and a flat fee as previously.

Despite not achieving a quorum on the vote, 87% of member companies that did respond were in favour of the proposal. “A big majority supported the principle of increasing the higher rates of membership and reducing the lower ones, so obviously the Board has validated the project,” said Jean-Claude Bel.

“The big companies among our membership largely supported the idea of paying more. Around 50% of our members will not see any change. A few companies will not be happy, but that is always the way and the decision has been reached in a democratic way. The membership fees remain more than reasonable compared with other trade associations.

“It is a fairer structure than before for our members and will help provide a more balanced source of revenue for the association.”

The latest Board meeting also approved a proposal to set up small focus groups made up of Board members to help generate ideas to move EFTTA forward. “It is hard for a 15-strong Board to reach decisions, especially when they meet only a few times each year,” said Jean-Claude Bel.

“So the intention is that groups of five people maximum should meet to brainstorm ideas for the Board to consider. Hopefully it will shortcut the decision-making process because a lot of the debate will have already taken place.”